Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#116486 11/24/03 08:57 PM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
I'd like to hear your opinions about annotations. It has been my experience that annotated copies of, say, the Bible, Mother Goose, and even Dracula have been texts with notes added to explain everything from etymology of certain terms used in the text to historical context. If I buy an annotated version of a novel, I expect to gain the benefit of someone's else's in-depth research.

[I will get to the question in a second; I'm warming up here.]

In the last couple of weeks, I've come across a usage of annotation that doesn't fit my own understanding of the term--and, yes, I've checked Webster's online and still don't like how the term was used. Here goes:

Students were asked to copy out bibliographical information about a favorite novel, and then they were asked to write a 3-sentence 'summary' of the novel to go on a bibliographical card. The librarians called the '3-sentence summary' on the card itself an annotation--and that's what I don't see as an annotation at all.

Would you use 'summary' and 'annotation' as synonyms here? I wouldn't--and I balk at using the term 'annotation'--however, I stand to be corrected if necessary.


#116487 11/24/03 09:49 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Dunno, WordyWone. You'd better ask a librarian ...


#116488 11/24/03 11:49 PM
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154
Z
Zed Offline
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
Z
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154
I've only ever used it as an attachment to a text not a summary of it.


#116489 11/25/03 01:59 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
W
wow Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
Every job or profession has its jargon.


#116490 11/25/03 02:52 PM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 180
member
Offline
member
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 180
"Dunno, WordyWone. You'd better ask a librarian ..."

Well, I'm just a paraprofessional libraroid, but I can tell you that the word "annotation" isn't official jargon for anything in a cataloging record. However, a brief summary is part of an annotated bibliography, and a library catalog can certainly be considered a bibliography. It seems appropriate to me for the context.


#116491 11/25/03 06:00 PM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Thanks, birdseed and wow. That pretty much explains the problem--and solution: terms of art.

Birdseed's use of the phrase 'annotated bibliography' sent me to onelook.com--and that sent me to a librarians' lexicon. Here's the definition:

"In a more general sense, any brief explanatory or descriptive comment added to a document, text, catalog entry, etc. In a critical annotation, the commentary is evaluative. Also refers to the process of annotating a document or an entry in a bibliography or catalog."

Thanks again. Live and learn, my motto.


#116492 11/25/03 06:10 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Ummm.

That's not "(annotating a document) or (an entry in a bibliography or catalog)", it's "annotating (a document) or (an entry in a bibliography or catalog)"


#116493 11/25/03 07:30 PM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 81
J
journeyman
Offline
journeyman
J
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 81
Hmm, do you mean...

Also refers to the process of annotating a document or an entry in a bibliography or catalog

Also refers to: (the process of annotating a document) or (an entry in a bibliography or catalog)

so either (i) a process, or (ii) an entry

or

Also refers to: the process of annotating: (a document) or (an entry in a bibliography or catalog)

where you annotate (i) a document, or (ii) an entry

but not

Also refers to: the process of: (annotating: a document) or (an entry in a bibliography or catalog)

since you can have (i) a process of annotating, but not (ii) a process of an entry


#116494 11/25/03 07:36 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Annotation also refers to the process of annotating a document or to the process of annotating an entry in a bibliography or (to the process of annotating an entry in a) catalog.







Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,912
Posts229,283
Members9,179
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV, Heather_Turey, Standy
9,179 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 444 guests, and 3 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,510
LukeJavan8 9,916
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5